Lucy Turnbull Has Taken Media On A Rare Tour Of The Lodge

The gates have been thrown open at The Lodge to give regular Aussies a rare glimpse into the Prime Minister's residence after an almost $10 million refurbishment of the historic premises.

The Lodge, on Canberra's Adelaide Avenue, was opened in 1927 and there have been no major renovations since even though most prime ministers have lived in the Georgian revival-style home during their time in office.

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Elizabeth Kelly, said major restorative work commenced in 2013. The refurb was first approved when Julia Gillard was Prime Minister then extended during Tony Abbott’s tenure as PM.

"I would think with the work that we've done we'll be able to use it for a very long time to come," Kelly told Macquarie Radio.

There's now a new roof, wiring has been replaced and asbestos has been removed, while the kitchen and bathrooms are new and there has been a security upgrade.

The Turnbulls moved into the historic home earlier this month.

The extensive refurb retains many original features of the residence.

The renovations included a security upgrade for the PM's residence.

According to The Guardian, numerous original features in the house have been restored including a lounge that's exactly where it was when Joseph Lyons and Dame Enid Lyons lived in the home in the 1930s.

The total cost of the renovations came in at $9.4 million, blowing out from initial expectations of just over $3 million.

Indigenous artwork is featured throughout the Georgian-style home.

The PM and his wife Lucy moved into the residence last weekend in time to host a reception for 2016 Australians of the Year.

Lucy Turnbull told the ABC she decided to showcase many contemporary artworks selected from the National Gallery in the residence's dining room.

Lucy Turnbull took media on a tour through The Lodge this week.

"It's an interesting thing -- do you put very traditional art in here or do you try to shake it up?" she said.

Mrs Turnbull took journalists on a 20-minute tour of The Lodge this week -- a media event that has been likened to the White House tour Jackie Kennedy gave to a CBS news crew in 1962.

In addition to the renovations, Indigenous artworks by Paddy Bedford and Rover Thomas now reportedly adorn the formal sitting rooms, while the work of many other female Australian artists are also featured.

In the east-facing Morning Room, works by Arthur Streeton and Margaret Preston grace the walls.